Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is proposing new zoning districts along a three-mile stretch of Route 161 from the Worthington city limits east to Ponderosa Drive.
By doing so, city and neighborhood leaders hope to bring denser development and walkable and public-transit oriented districts to an area originally designed for cars and trucks.
Columbus City Council is set to vote Monday on a resolution to consider the sweeping zoning change.
City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said in a statement that Columbus is facing a housing crisis.
“By ensuring that areas like this vital Northland corridor are zoned for walkable, mixed-use development, we are unlocking opportunities for new housing, supporting local businesses and making it easier for residents to access transit," Dorans said. "This is exactly the kind of smart, forward-thinking policy that will help Columbus grow equitably.”
This comes after Columbus City Council approved the new Zone In plan last year to modernize zoning across the city and build more housing along major streets.
Pat Hammel, Northland Community Council vice president, said in a statement that the changes would establish design standards that are critical for redevelopment.
The businesses and neighborhoods along Route 161, also known as East Dublin-Granville Road, grew in the 1960s and 1970s, including hotels and motels, shopping centers, office buildings and restaurants.
Access roads along Route 161 funneling traffic to and from intersections were built, making the area even less pedestrian-friendly.
If Columbus City Council approves the resolution, the public will have 60 days to comment before a final vote.
